"the figures and props are supposed to be one composite figure when reloaded", where did you get that idea from? When you parent a pp2 to a figure, then resave, Poser basicly just saves the pp2 inside the new cr2. If the pp2 contained an external geometry reference so will the cr2. If you Import an obj then parent it to a figure the geometry of the obj will be stored internally inside the cr2, as a 'geomCustom ', but it will not be added to the figureResFile obj. Using 'Replace Body Part with Prop' has a slightly diffrent effect, the geometry from the prop is placed in the actor, still as a geomCustom. I'm not quite sure what hapens to the channels for the actor, I know that targetgeom are left in but hidden, and i think that all the JP's remain.